Section 1: Design Principles and American

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n e w a l b a n y, o h i o
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design principles & american
architectural precedent
Design Guidelines & Requirements
section 1
Introduction
These guidelines have been developed by New Albany
to help ensure that our community enjoys the highest
possible quality of architectural design. As growth and
development continue, the guidelines will be useful
in numerous ways – by showcasing good design
principles; by explaining characteristics of the
traditional American architectural styles that inspire
our growth; and by suggesting best practices and
appropriate steps to take so that new development
will benefit the entire community.
Included here are both design and development
guidelines and requirements. They are divided into
eight sections, beginning with Section 1, which
establishes the overall principles guiding design
in New Albany. Section 1 applies to all
development in New Albany. The following is a
guide to the subsequent sections, to help you
determine which section(s) applies to your specific
development project.
Section 2 Village Center Residential –
For all residential properties within the Village
Center, excluding isolated sites
The guiding principles for design in New Albany stress the importance of both architectural
design and environmental setting.
Section 3 Village Center Commercial –
For all commercial properties within the Village
Center, excluding isolated sites
Section 4 Existing Buildings –
For all existing buildings, excluding the Village Center
and isolated sites
Section 5 Residential Outside Village Center –
For all residential new construction, excluding the
Village Center and isolated sites
Section 6 Commercial Outside Village Center –
For all commercial new construction, excluding the
Village Center and isolated sites
Plan of the Village Center.
Section 7 Isolated Sites –
For all properties that are not visible from public
roadways
Section 8 Civic and Institutional Buildings –
For all public buildings, including existing buildings
and isolated sites
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
I. Guiding Principles for Design
The New Albany community, including elected
public officials, property owners, developers,
businesspeople and residents, recognizes that the
desirability of New Albany as a place to live, work
and invest is directly related to the quality of its
built environment. Focus group interviews
repeatedly reinforced the strong belief that the best
way to maintain and increase property values is to
continue the design review process that has been
successful so far and to refine it, as necessary, to
address the multiple development scenarios that
exist in New Albany today. The following
guiding principles grew out of the interview process
and were ideas that were discussed by many of the
people that were interviewed.
Four-sided architecture refers to the consistent use of materials and design elements on all
sides a structure, avoiding blank walls.
A. Four-sided architecture will be the standard
throughout New Albany. This principle relates to
the fact that every elevation of a building is important in terms of design, materials, patterns of
windows and doors, and details.
Every elevation of a building should be carefully
designed, although not all elevations must be the
same. Special attention should be given to the
principal elevation, which is likely to have more
detail than secondary elevations. There should not
be any blank elevations on principal structures.
Special attention should be given to the use of
materials on all elevations to avoid a common
practice in many communities of using one material
on the façade and other materials on the
remaining elevations. Color is also an important
aspect of design in New Albany, and for buildings
based on the precedent of American architectural
styles, the historic color palettes issued by nearly
every major paint company should be used for
guidance. The use of colors that are not consistent
with American architectural precedent requires
review and approval by the Architectural Review
Board.
American architectural history is rich with design precedents appropriate for New Albany.
B. Design of new buildings in New Albany will be
based on the precedent of American architectural
styles.
New Albany has made the decision to encourage
design based on several traditional American architectural styles, specifically those described in the
section on “American Architectural Precedent.” This
decision is based on the philosophy that these styles
work together to create a high-quality physical
environment, and that they have helped to define
the character of New Albany, which is strongly
differentiated from other Central Ohio communities. It should be noted that there are cases where
divergence from American architectural styles may
be appropriate, such as on large isolated sites, new
suburban commercial development, or in cases of
previously existing buildings.
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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C. Development in New Albany will be
pedestrian-friendly.
New Albany places a high value on walkability, access, and connections between different
parts of the community.
Parking areas and garages should be screened and placed in inconspicuous locations.
New Albany places a high value on making the
community pedestrian-friendly so that people are
not entirely dependent upon automobiles. A
pedestrian-friendly environment encourages more
social interaction, provides greater mobility for
children and those who do not drive, creates
opportunities for recreational exercise, and
contributes significantly to the overall quality of life
in the community. Pedestrian-friendly buildings,
streetscapes, and leisure trails are a priority in New
Albany.
D. New development will provide connectivity to
existing developed areas through streets, sidewalks,
and leisure trails.
As New Albany continues to grow, connectivity
is an important issue. Rather than isolated
developments, New Albany is committed to having
a community that is connected through a system of
streets and sidewalks in residential areas and leisure
trails connecting the various neighborhoods and
areas of the community. This connectivity is a key
to mobility that encourages a variety of
transportation modes – automobiles, walking,
bicycles – and increasing opportunities for
recreational activities.
E. Parking areas and garages will be screened with
landscaping and placed in locations to minimize
their visual impact.
Preferred building materials are brick and wood in New Albany.
Although automobiles are essential to those living
and working in New Albany, the design of the built
environment is centered on people and not
automobiles. Therefore all development will be
expected to minimize the visual impact of cars
through a combination of garage location and
landscaping or other screening methods. Garage
doors should not be on primary facades of
buildings, nor should they face directly on a public
street.
F. New Albany development will utilize authentic and
high-quality building materials.
The quality of the architecture in New Albany is
directly related to the use of building materials, with
brick and wood preferred. These materials are
typical of the historic architectural styles
highlighted in the “American Architectural
Precedent” section of the design standards. The
use of other materials, where noted in subsequent
sections, requires review and approval by the New
Albany Architectural Review Board.
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
G. The design of buildings in New Albany will include
attention to details and ornamentation consistent
with the precedents of American architectural
styles.
American architectural styles are described in the
design guidelines, with additional information
included at the end of this section. Great care
should be taken to not mix elements from different
styles or to try to produce elaborate ornamentation
on a shoestring budget.
H. Development in New Albany will be designed to
include street trees, landscaping, and public open
space to enhance the quality and character of the
built environment.
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is a rich archive of information about
details appropriate to various historical styles.
The distinctive character of New Albany is due
to a combination of architecture and the physical
environment. The creation of open spaces, both
natural and landscaped, as well as the planting of
street trees and other private landscaping, create a
backdrop for the variety of buildings that have been
and will continue to be constructed in New Albany.
Over time, this physical environment will improve,
as trees grow larger and green spaces enhance
the visual connectivity among the various
neighborhoods and areas of New Albany.
I. Development in New Albany will recognize the
importance of long-term stewardship of the
community’s natural and historic resources and
natural areas; woodlands and wetlands should be
respected and preserved as a contributing element
to development in New Albany.
New Albany values the preservation of natural landscape features.
Although much of New Albany was developed
within the past two decades, the community has
both historic resources and a rich variety of natural
areas, including woodlands and wetlands. These
areas should be protected and enhanced as future
development occurs, because they are important
to the quality of life in the community.
Sustainability is another aspect of this stewardship.
Ongoing development should consider green
design, energy efficiency, and LEED-certified
design.
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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J. Design of new buildings on isolated sites and
additions to existing buildings will respect the
physical context of location.
Abercrombie and Fitch’s contemporary building is a good example of design flexibility on a
large isolated site.
Existing buildings and isolated building sites
provide the opportunity for more flexibility in
design in New Albany. Those buildings that existed
prior to the creation of the Architectural Review
Board, or building lots located within areas where
there are a number of existing buildings, will not
necessarily be expected to follow the American
architectural precedent described in these
standards. Greater attention should be given to the
physical context of location so that the design is
compatible with its neighbors. Large, isolated sites,
where buildings are not visible from the public
right-of-way or from neighboring properties, have
the greatest flexibility with regard to architectural
design, as the resulting design will not have any
visual impact on its neighbors.
II. American Architectural Precedent
The original design standards for New Albany stated
“Building design shall be based on traditional
American styles found in the Field Guide to
American Architecture, excluding 20th century.”
These standards were amended in 2004 to give more
flexibility with design to individual lots of record
that existed prior to 1990, recognizing that there are
existing buildings that may not strictly meet the new
standards.
A review of traditional American styles prior to the
20th century was undertaken as part of the
development of the following standards. It became
apparent that the diversity of American architecture,
especially early regional vernacular architecture such
as Spanish Mission style from the southwest, would
not be appropriate for design precedent for New
Albany. As a result, the standards have been revised
to include specific American architectural styles that
should be used for precedent. A brief discussion of
each style, its character-defining features, and
photographic examples of each is included. The
selected architectural styles span a period of
approximately two hundred years. While they differ
in many ways, there are certain common
characteristics shared by these styles. They are all
highly-ordered with a certain formality to the design;
utilize traditional building forms -- mainly with
hipped or gabled rooflines; have detailing influenced
by classical architecture; and provide opportunities
for stylistic variations within each style.
Since the buildings of New Albany will vary in terms
of scale and level of detail, it is important to
recognize that certain styles will necessarily cost
more to build. It is better to build a modest
building, following a simpler vernacular form and
to do it well, than to be overly ambitious with the
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
result being a poorly-executed Georgian Revival
interpretation. Mixing and matching elements from
different styles is strongly discouraged, as the
resulting design will not be successful. Contemporary
interpretations of these designs – especially in the
category of vernacular building types – are not
excluded and may be considered.
A. Georgian (18th Century)
Georgian architecture in the United States is an 18th
century style. As such, there is no true Georgian
architecture in Ohio, as the state was settled after the
Georgian style was falling out of favor and the Federal
style was beginning its period of popularity. There
are, however, excellent examples of Georgian
architecture in New England, Middle Atlantic states,
and less frequently in the deep South. The style was
virtually non-existent west of the Allegheny
mountains.
Georgian architecture is named after the architecture
that was popular beginning with the reign of King
George I in the early 18th century and ending
with King George III at the end of the century.
American examples are directly influenced by those
found in England and it was a dominant style in
English colonies.
Fine examples of American Georgian architecture
can be found in wood frame, brick, and stone and
in houses that can range from one to three stories in
height. The New England expression of Georgian was
frequently constructed in wood frame – a readilyavailable building material – with a central chimney
that helped warm the entire house. The availability
of clay throughout the Middle Atlantic and Southern
states made brick a common building material. These
examples tended to have exterior chimneys and
frequently had separate summer kitchens to keep
houses cool during the hot summer months. Stone
examples can also be found the Middle Atlantic states
but are much less common elsewhere. The Georgian
style was utilized for houses, churches, and public
buildings. It has a high degree of detail, and fine
craftsmanship was essential.
These examples of Georgian houses illustrate the various materials and level of detail found
in this historic style.
Character-defining features of American Georgian
include:
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Formal symmetry
Three - and five-bay facades most common
Gable or hip roofline
Entrance with pediment and entablature and
paneled door
Divided light, 6/9, 9/9 and 12/12 multiple-pane
windows
Cornice with dentils and modillion blocks
Pilasters and corner quoins also common
Gabled roof dormers in some cases
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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B. Federal (1780-1830)
The Federal style began its period of popularity with
the formation of the new American republic. It is the
first of America’s architectural styles that was built in
Ohio, which was just being settled in the early 19th
century.
Federal architecture was adapted to all types of
buildings – single-family homes, rowhouses,
commercial buildings, and public buildings. Like the
Georgian style, Federal architecture is formal and
balanced in design, with classically-inspired detailing.
Federal style buildings were typically built in brick
and stone, although frame examples were common
in New England. If constructed in brick, Flemish
bond was a common bonding pattern. Federal style
buildings share many characteristics with the earlier
Georgian style, such as an emphasis on proportion
and symmetry, although the detailing tends to be
less robust. In high-style examples, the entrances are
detailed with semi-circular or semi-elliptical fanlights
above the door, rather than pediments and pilasters of
the Georgian style.
Character-defining features include:
One of the distinguishing features of a high-style Federal house is a fanlight entrance.
• Formal symmetry
• Three - and five bay facades most common
• Central entrance on five-bay facades, but off-center
on three-bay facades
• Fanlight entrance, with or without sidelights
• Gable roofline, with center or end chimneys
• Divided light, 6/6 multiple-pane windows, narrow
muntins
• Flat lintels or lintels with keystone
(constructed in stone)
• Modest cornice detailing
• Roof dormers less common
C. Greek Revival (1820-1860)
This example of high-style Greek Revival architecture features a two-story portico and
entrance with transom sidelights.
Inspired by the struggles of Greece against its rival
Turkey during the early 19th century, the United
States became intensely interested in the ancient
culture of Greece’s early democracy. The popularity of
the Greek Revival style overlapped with the Federal
style in many places, including Ohio. Greek Revival
is a formal style with classically-inspired detailing.
One of the major differences is that arches are never
found on Greek Revival architecture, as the arch was
unknown to the ancient Greeks. It was later developed
by the Romans and adapted to domes and vaults in
their architecture.
The popularity of Greek Revival spread rapidly
because of the production and wide distribution of
builders’ guides. These books, written by Asher
Benjamin and Minard Lafever, among others, gave
carpenter/builders the information they needed to
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
produce handsome Greek Revival buildings.
Proportion and classical detailing were highlighted in
these publications. High-style examples can be found
in frame, brick, and stone. In addition to houses,
many early churches and public buildings employed
this style.
In Ohio, fine examples of Greek Revival architecture
can be found throughout much of the state.
Character-defining features of Greek Revival include:
• Formal symmetry, with 3-bay or 5-bay facades, or
• Temple-front form with a two-story portico and
gable end facing the street
• Gabled rooflines
• Cornice with returns
• Entrance with transom and sidelights
• Columns or pilasters flanking the entrance
• Wall pilasters
• Divided light, 6/6 multiple-pane windows
D. Colonial Revival (1880s to present)
The Colonial Revival style began its period of
popularity in the late 19th century. Inspired by the
nostalgia for our past – especially after the 1876
Philadelphia Exposition and the 100th anniversary
of U.S. independence – architects and builders freely
interpreted our early architecture. These buildings
tended to select features from earlier architecture but
typically paid less attention to scale and proportion
than their earlier counterparts. There was tremendous
variety in Colonial Revival architecture in scale, level
of detail, and interpretation of elements. The style
remained popular for decades and Colonial Revival
homes are located in many older first-ring
suburbs in cities throughout the country. In fact,
many post-World War II houses exhibit Colonial
Revival characteristics.
These examples of Colonial Revival architecture illustrate the different roof shapes and
entrance details that characterize the style.
Character-defining features of Colonial Revival
include:
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Regular forms
Symmetrical facades
Emphasis on front door – fanlights common
Gable or hip rooflines, gambrel roofline on Dutch
Colonial Revival
Roof dormers are common
Front porches with single or multiple grouped
columns
Balustrades on roofs and porches
Divided light, multiple pane windows – sometimes
in pairs
Palladian and bay windows common
Frame construction very common
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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E. Georgian Revival (1900-present)
The Georgian Revival grew in popularity at the turn
of the 20th century. While it shared many
characteristics with the Colonial Revival, the
Georgian Revival examples tend to be grander, more
historically accurate interpretations of 18th century
architecture. Examples can be found throughout most
middle to upper class neighborhoods, especially
during the first several decades of the 20th century.
Brick, stone, and wood frame are all appropriate
building materials, and slate was the most common
roofing material.
Character-defining features:
• Formal symmetry
• Central entrance with broken pediment or elaborate
architrave
• Gable or hip roofline
• Roof dormers with classical detail used occasionally
• Cornice with dentils and modillion blocks
• Quoins and beltcourses
• Divided light, multiple pane windows
• Shutters used occasionally
F. Vernacular
These examples of Colonial Revival architecture illustrate the different roof shapes and
entrance details that characterize the style.
This simple vernacular home demonstrates that simplicity in form, materials and design can
give a house timeless quality.
The term “vernacular” architecture is used to describe
buildings of the past that were constructed by builders
or craftsmen, rather than designed by architects. They
follow traditional forms and methods of construction;
can be found with regional variations depending on
available materials and local building tradition;
and are simple in design with little extraneous
ornamentation. While these buildings can be simple
and straightforward, they can also be quite elegant
if the scale, proportions and individual features are
compatible and well-executed. They frequently had
one or just a few elements of a specific architectural
style but lacked the whole composition that would
place them in a particular stylistic category. Houses,
commercial buildings, barns, and outbuildings are
all building types that could use vernacular forms for
inspiration.
1. Rectangular Form Houses
This building form, which appeared throughout
the Midwest for most of the 19th century is an
excellent model for affordable contemporary houses.
The simplicity of form, symmetrical pattern of
windows and doors, and quality materials contribute
to the classic appeal of these modestly-scaled
buildings. While typically rectangular in form, many
of these houses also had wings that were
perpendicular to the main block of the house,
creating an L-shaped building. Constructed most
often in wood or brick, in some areas stone examples
can be found. Gable rooflines are almost universal, as
are divided light multiple-pane windows. Chimneys
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
are usually located at the gable ends. Cornice returns
and transoms over front doors are other common
features.
Another variation of this form is a rectangular
building, with the gable end facing the street and a
one-story wing. Sometimes referred to historically
as an upright-and-wing, this style was popular in the
New England states and in Ohio’s Western Reserve in
northeastern Ohio.
2. Barns
Ohio has a rich tradition of barn design, as early
settlers came to Ohio from New England, the Middle
Atlantic states and Virginia and other southern states
during its formative period. All of these areas had
traditions of barn building that appear in various
areas of the state. Barns are most commonly braced
wood frame construction with exterior wood
siding – vertical siding is the most common. Gable
and gambrel rooflines are both common, as are stone
foundations. Variations include rectangular bank
barns, which were constructed into a bank of earth
creating access on two levels; cross-gable barns,
which were L- or T-shaped in plan; and round or
octagonal barns, which were elegant and fairly rare
variations that became popular during the mid-19th
century. Slate and standing seam metal were the most
common roof materials. Openings were frequently
louvered to allow air circulation or tended to be small
if in the form of windows.
Smaller-scaled outbuildings – smokehouses, summer
kitchens and springhouses were also common in rural
areas. These building types could be easily adapted for
use as outbuildings (garden sheds, poolhouses, and so
on) for today’s homes.
III. Sources of Additional Information
In order to assist property owners, architects,
builders, and developers in learning more about the
topic, the following sources provide additional information. This is not a comprehensive list, and you may
be aware of excellent sources that are not listed here.
However, this edited list provides guidance, and all
the sources are easily available.
Barns are a rural building type that can be found in many different forms, which may provide
inspiration for use in some areas of New Albany.
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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A. Publications
Katz, Peter. The New Urbanism: Toward an
Architecture of Community. New York: McGrawHill, Inc., 1994. Although “new urbanism” takes
many architectural forms, the philosophy of
creating communities with well-designed buildings,
public spaces and connectivity is relevant for New
Albany.
Kimball, Fiske. Domestic Architecture of the
American Colonies and of the Early Repbulic.
New York, Dover Publications, Inc., original
copyright, 1922. This is one of the classic early
studies of American architectural history,
undertaken by an architecture professor at the
University of Virginia.
McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to
American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,
2005. This is an excellent publication that has
numerous photographs and line drawings of details
of American architectural styles.
Rifkind, Carole. A Field Guide to American
Architecture. New York: New American Library,
1980. An older version of an architectural history
book, it focuses mainly on residential architecture.
While there are many books about American architectural history, those listed here are excellent resources for learning more about design elements of various architectural styles.
The Architectural Treasures of Early America. The
National Historical Society, 1987. A sixteen volume
set based on material originally published as “The
White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs”
edited by Russel F. Whitehead and Frank Chouteau
Brown. The collection of drawings and photographs
is part of the research and reference collection of
The American Institute of Architects, Washington,
D.C.
Versaci, Russell. Creating a New Old House:
Yesterday’s Character for Today’s Home. Newton,
Connecticut: The Taunton Press, 2003. This is an
excellent publication by the American Institute of
Architects that shows how to create a new house
with the scale, design and attention to detail found
in historic homes. Regional examples are included,
but all follow the same eight “Pillars of Traditional
Design” outlined in the book.
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
B. Websites
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/habs_
haer/ Founded in 1933 as a “make work” project
for unemployed architects, the Historic American
Buildings Survey (HABS) sent teams of architects
throughout the United States to research,
photograph, measure and record historic
architecture. The Historic American Engineering
Record (HAER) was established in 1969 to
document engineering works such as bridges,
canals, and industrial complexes. Through the
Library of Congress, these files are now available to
the public through the internet, and photographs
and drawings can be downloaded.
The drawings and photographs maintained by the Historic American Buildings Survey
(HABS) can be downloaded from the HABS website.
C. Library Resources
New Albany Resource Library
New Albany is developing a resource library that
includes publications, samples of materials, and
information on appropriate windows, doors, exterior
materials, architectural trim and other building
components. Contact New Albany’s Community
Development Department for information about
library hours and use policies.
Sahli Collection, New Albany Public Library
The Sahli Collection includes materials on
architecture, planning and urban design and may
provide useful research information for projects in
New Albany.
Architrave
IV. Glossary of Terms
Architrave: In classical architecture, a horizontal
element resting on columns or piers; in current
usage, the trim elements around window and door
openings.
Baluster: Vertical member, usually of wood, which
supports the railing of a porch or the handrail of a
stairway.
Balustrade: Railing or parapet consisting of a handrail on balusters; sometimes also includes a bottom
rail.
Bay: 1) A spatial structural unit of a building facade;
2) A structure protruding out from a wall.
Beveled siding: Tapered wood siding that overlaps
for weather protection. It is applied horizontally to
buildings of frame construction.
Clapboard: Large wood boards which taper slightly
(they are a type of beveled siding) so they overlap
and lie flat; applied horizontally on buildings of
frame construction.
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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Column: A post found on storefronts, porches,
and balconies; may be fluted or smooth, round or
square.
Cornerboard: A board used to cover the exposed
ends of wood siding to give a finished appearance
and make the building watertight.
Cornice: The projecting uppermost portion of a wall,
often treated in a decorative manner with brackets.
Mullions
Dormer: A structural extension of a building’s roof,
intended to provide light and headroom in an attic
space; usually contains a window or windows on its
vertical face.
Double-hung Window: A window with two
balanced sashes, with one sliding over the other
vertically to open.
Eaves: The lower portion of the sloping surface of a
roof, especially the part that overhangs the
building’s wall.
Facade: The “face” of the building; usually refers to
the main side of the building, though it can be
applied to all sides.
Pediment
Gable: The end of the building where the wall
area is defined by the shape of the roof, with a
triangular shape being the most common. A
gambrel or double-pitch roof forms a nontriangular gable.
Glazing: Glass fitted into windows or doors.
Hipped Roofline: A roof formed by four angled roof
surfaces.
In-Kind: Replacement of one element of a building
with another of the same material, design, size, and
appearance.
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design. Certification granted by the U.S. Green
Building Council to encourage “green” design. It is
the recognized standard for energy efficiency and
sustainability
Light: A single window pane or glazing unit.
Mullion: A vertical piece that divides window sash,
doors or panels set close together in a series.
Muntin: The pieces that make up the small
subdivisions in a multiple-pane glass window.
Pediment: The triangular face of a roof gable; or a
gable which is used in porches, or as decoration
over windows, doors, and dormers.
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New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
Pilaster: A flat pier which is attached to the surface
of the wall and has a slight projection; the pier may
be given a base and cap, and may be smooth or
fluted.
Portico: An entrance porch, usually supported by
columns and sheltering only the entry.
Quoins: Oversized rectangular blocks (or wood
simulating blocks) that typically appear at the
corners of buildings.
Return: The continuation of a projection or cornice
in a different direction, usually around a corner at a
right angle.
Quoins
Sash: The framework of the window that supports
the glass. Sash may be fixed, sliding, hinged, or
pivoted.
Sill: The framing member that forms the lower part
of a window or door opening.
Setback: The distance between the property line of a
land parcel and the facade of a building.
Shutters: Shutters should be sized so they would
cover the window entirely if closed. Shutters are
usually mounted on hinges attached to the side of
the window opening.
Entrance with transom and sidelights
Sidelight: A glass panel, usually of multiple panes, to
either side of a door; often used in conjunction with
a transom.
Soffit: A flat wood member used as a finished
undersurface for any overhead exposed part of a
building, such as a cornice. Commonly found on
the underside of the eaves.
Transom: A glass panel, either fixed or moveable,
which is placed over a door or window to
provide additional natural light to the interior of the
building. Used on both residential and commercial
buildings.
New Albany, Ohio Design Principles & American Architectural Precedent — Section 1
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Photo Credits
Benjamin D. Rickey & Co.
MSI
N e w A l b a n y, o h i o
Historic American Buildings Survey
Guidelines Text By:
Nancy Recchie & Jeff Darbee,
Benjamin D. Rickey & Co.
Graphic Design By:
Margo Puffenberger,
MSI
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